It talked. That was a bit unexpected. Anubis reached out a little deeper with his senses. Ah, there it was. This tuna thief was a god. Old, but not Sumerian old. Definitely older than the Greeks, that much was certain. Whatever pantheon it was from, it was still a thief.
“I concede that the fish is now in your stomach,” he said, trying to stay civil and agreeable with this creature. “But it was not yours to put in your stomach in the first place. Perhaps I had left that there for the starving jackal family whose den is behind those rocks.” Which of course he hadn’t, but this newcomer would not know that.
He thought about shifting back to his human form, or maybe the jackal-head form. That always seemed to impress and possibly intimidate others. Yes, that should teach this guy who was top god around this desert. But no. They weren’t at the point where dominance was an issue. Not yet anyway. Nubie hoped they never got there.
“Therefore, if you would be so kind, you owe me so that I may replace the tuna that now resides in your stomach. Perhaps after that, we could get a beer and you can explain who you are and how you came to be in my desert.” Pleasant was fine, but there was no reason not to remind the other canine of just who was trespassing on whose territory.